(Sold out! Click here to be added to the waiting list, or visit Lee's bio page for information about other upcoming workshops and her online course.)

You open a door to a dark room and you think you know what’s there, where everything is arranged, but you really don’t know until you step inside. — Bob Dylan, Chronicles, Vol. 1

Aversion to anxiety is often accompanied by reactivity and actions that worsen how we feel. We suffer. This workshop, taught from the perspectives of Zen and mindfulness meditation practices, is supported by the latest neuroscience and psychological research.

Our focus for the day will be on our direct experience. We will practice uncovering the natural state of a quieted mind, slowing down enough to see what is actually happening when we describe ourselves as anxious. As we cultivate the opportunity to be with what is actually happening with awareness and clarity, we can respond to difficulties with consciousness, ease and new choices, rather than with reactivity that at times can make things worse.

This workshop is supported with guided meditations and psychotherapeutic strategies and is appropriate for those who are new to meditation and for those who are experienced meditators. The workshop also meets the CE criteria for several health care professional designations.

Fees: $100; $90 current SFZC members; $80 limited income.

*Add $30 for CEU certificate fee, to be paid at the time of registration.

*NOTE about CE credits: 7 CE credits available for MFTs, LCSWs, psychologists and nurses. The $30 fee can be paid at the time of registration. San Francisco Zen Center and the Spiritual Competency Resource Center (SCRC) team together to offer CE credit to MFTs, LCSWs, psychologists and nurses. SCRC offers CE credit to MFTs and LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (provider #PCE1851). SCRC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education activities for psychologists. SCRC maintains responsibility for these programs and their content. SCRC also offers CE credit to nurses (California Board of Registered Nursing Provider #CEP11909). For complete information visit spiritualcompetency.com or contact David Lukoff, PhD, at 707-763-3576. For more information, please contact our Programming Department at programassist@sfzc.org.

Preregistration is required. Use the Register Online button above. Or call our toll free number (888.743.9362) or our local number (415.475.9362).

Dr. Lee LippLee Lipp, PhD, has a therapy practice in San Francisco and supervises at Haight Ashbury Psych Services. She has been a member of Thich Nhat Hahn’s Order of Interbeing, practicing Zen and Vipassana since 1990. She served as shuso (head student) at City Center for the 2013 Winter Practice Period. Having taught in psychology graduate programs for 16 years, her most recent work has included being Diversity Coordinator at SFZC. She has taught Transforming Depression and Anxiety classes in venues that include Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Insight Meditation Society, Zen Hospice Project, Tassajara Mountain Center, San Francisco Zen Center, East Bay Meditation Center, Gay Men’s Buddhist Sangha, SF Mental Health Association and San Francisco Department of Mental Health.

Jisho Lisa HoffmanJisho Lisa Hoffman was priest ordained by the late Surei Darlene Cohen at San Francisco Zen Center, and received dharma transmission from Meiji Tony Patchell in August 2013 at the Russian River Zendo. Lisa's passion is bringing the Buddhist teachings, meditation and mindfulness into the world in a way that’s easy and useful for people to integrate into their everyday lives. She does this as a priest and as a nonprofit coach and consultant.